Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at Horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows are limited exclusively to jumpers, sometimes jumper classes are offered in conjunction with other English-style events, and sometimes show jumping is but one division of very large, all-breed competitions that include a very wide variety of disciplines. Jumping classes may be governed by various national horse show sanctioning organizations, such as the United States Equestrian Federation in the USA, but all international competitions are governed by the rules of the FEI (Federation Equestrian Internationale).
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Hunters or Jumpers?
People unfamiliar with horse shows may be confused by the difference between show hunter classes and jumper classes. Put simply, hunter classes are judged subjectively on the smoothness, manners, style and way of going of the horse as it jumps relatively natural-looking obstacles such as unpainted fence rails. Conversely, jumper classes are scored objectively based entirely on a numerical score determined only by whether the horse attempts the obstacle, clears it, and finishes the course in the allotted time. Jumper courses are often colorful and at times quite creatively designed. Hunters have meticulous turnout and tend toward very quiet, conservative horse tack and rider attire. Hunter bits, bridles, crops, spurs and martingales are tightly regulated. Jumpers, while caring for their horses and grooming them well, are not scored on turnout, are allowed a wide range of equipment, and riders may wear less conservative attire, as long as it stays within the bounds of the rules.
Courses and Rules
Jumper classes are held over a course of show jumping obstacles, including verticals, spreads, double and triple combinations, usually with many turns and changes of direction. The purpose is to jump cleanly over a set course within an allotted time. Time faults are assessed for exceeding the time allowance. Jumping faults are incurred for knockdowns and blatant disobediences, such as refusals (when the horse stops before a fence or "runs out"). (see "Modern Rules" below) Horses are allowed a limited number of refusals before being disqualified. A refusal can also lead to a rider going over the time allowed on course. Placings are based on the lowest number of points or "faults" accumulated. Tied entries usually have a jump off over a raised and shortened course, and the course is timed; if entries are tied for faults accumulated in the jump-off, the fastest time wins.
In most competitions, riders are allowed to walk both the course and the jump-off course before competition to plan their ride.
The more professional the competition, such as "A" rated shows in the United States, or the international "Grand Prix" circuit, the more technical the course. Not only is the height and sometimes width ("spread") of an obstacle increased to present a greater challenge, technical difficulty also increases with tight turns and shorter or unusual distances between fences. For example, a course designer might set up a line so that there are six and a half strides (the standard measure for a canter stride is 12 feet) between the jumps, requiring the rider to adjust the horse's stride dramatically in order to make the distance.
Unlike show hunter classes, which reward calmness and style, Jumper classes require boldness, scope, power, accuracy, and control; speed is also a factor, especially in jump-off courses and speed classes (when time counts even in the first round). A jumper must jump big, bravely, and fast, but he must also be careful and accurate to avoid knockdowns and must be balanced and rideable in order to rate and turn accurately. A jumper rider must ride the best line to each fence, saving ground with well-planned turns and lines and must adjust the horse's stride for each fence and distance. In a jump-off, a rider must must balance the need to go as fast as possible and turn as tight as possible against the horse's ability to jump cleanly.
History of show jumping
Show jumping is a relatively new equestrian sport. Until the Enclosure Acts which came into force in England in the eighteenth century there had been little need for horses to routinely jump fences. But with this act of parliament came new challenges for those who followed fox hounds. The enclosures act brought fencing and boundaries to many parts of the country as common ground was dispersed amongst the wealthy landowners. This meant that those wishing to pursue their sport now needed horses which were capable of jumping these obstacles.
In the early shows held in France, there was a parade of competitors who then took off across country for the jumping. This sport was, however, not popular with spectators as they could not watch the jumping. Thus, it was not long before fences began to appear in the arena. This became known as Lepping. Fifteen years later, Lepping competitions were brought to Britain and by 1900 most of the more important shows had Lepping classes. Ladies, riding side-saddle, had their own classes.
At this time, the principal cavalry schools of Europe at Pinerolo and Tor-di-Quinto in Italy, the French school in Saumur and the Spanish school in Vienna all preferred to use a very deep seat with long stirrups when jumping. This style of riding was perhaps more secure for the rider, but it also impeded the freedom of the horse to use its body to the extent needed to clear large obstacles.
The Italian Instructor Captain Fiederico Caprilli heavily influenced the world of jumping with his ideas that a forward position with shorter stirrups would not impede the balance of the horse negotiating obstacles. This style, now known as the forward seat,is commonly used today. The deep, Dressage-style seat, while useful for riding on the flat and in conditions where control of the horse is of greater importance than freedom of movement, is sometimes referred to with disparagement as a "backward" seat in some jumping circles.
The first major show jumping competition held in England was at the Horse of the Year Show at Olympia in 1907. Most of the competitors were members of the military and it became clear at this competition and in the subsequent years that there was no uniformity of rules for the sport. Judges marked on their own opinions. Some marked according to the severity of the obstacle and others marked according to style. Before 1907 there were no penalties for a refusal and the competitor was sometimes asked to miss the fence to please the spectators. The first courses were built with little imagination; many consisting of only a straight bar fence and a water jump. A meeting was arranged in 1923 which led to the formation of the BSJA in 1925. In the United States, a similar need for national rules for jumping and other equestrian activities led to the formation of the American Horse Shows Association in 1917, now known as the United States Equestrian Federation.
Show jumping was first incorporated into the Olympic Games in 1912 and has thrived ever since, its popularity due in part to its suitability as a spectator sport which can be viewed on television.
Original scoring tariff
The original list of faults introduced in The United Kingdom in 1925 was as follows:
- Refusing or Running out at any fence:
- 1st: 4 faults
- 2nd: elimination
- Fall of the horse, the rider or both: elimination
- Touches--If a horse touches a fence without knocking it down, zero faults
- Knockdowns-- 4 faults.
- water jump--if a horse lands with any number of feet in the water--4 faults. However no faults were incurred if the raised block in front of the water was knocked down.
Water jumps were once at least 15 feet (5 meters) wide, although the water had often drained out of them by the time the last competitor jumped. High jumping would start with a pole at around 5 feet but this was later abandoned, as many horses went under the pole. It was for this reason that more poles were added and fillers came into use. Time penalties were not counted until 1917.
Modern Rules
Rules have since evolved, with different national federations having different classes and rules. The international governing body for most major show jumping competitions is the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI). FEI The two most common types of penalties are jumping penalties and time penalties.
- Jumping Penalties: Jumping penalties are assessed for refusals and knockdowns, with each refusal or knockdown adding four faults to a competitor's score.
- Penalties for knockdowns are imposed only when the knockdown changes the height of the jump. If a horse or rider knocks down a bottom or middle rail while still clearing the height of the obstacle, they receive no penalties. Penalties are assessed at the open water when the horse touches the water or white tape with any of his feet. If a rail is set over the middle of the water, faults are not accumulated for landing in the water.
- Refusals: Refusals now are penalized four faults, up from three. Within the last several years, the FEI has decreased the number of refusals resulting in elimination from three to two, and this rule has trickled down from the top levels of FEI competition to all levels of horse shows (at least in the United States).
- A refusal that results in the destruction of the integrity of a jump (running into the fence instead of jumping it, displacing poles, gates, flowers, or large clumps of turf or dirt) will not receive four faults for the knockdown, but instead the four faults for a refusal and an additional penalty while the timer is stopped for the repair or replacement of the jump. A refusal inside a combination (one- or two-stride) must re-jump the entire combination.
- Time Penalties: In the past, a common timing rule was a 1/4 second penalty for each second or fraction of a second over the time allowed. Since the early 2000s, this rule was changed by the FEI so that each second or fraction of a second over the time allowed would result in 1 time penalty (e.g. with a time allowed of 72 seconds, a time of 73.09 seconds would result in 2 time faults).
Tack
Show jumping competitors use a jumping saddle, which has a forward flap and a seat that is slightly further back than other English type saddles. This gives the rider support over fences as they ride with short stirrups. Other saddles, such as those designed for dressage, can seriously hinder a rider over large fences, forcing them into a position that may hinder the horse's movement or put the rider dangerously behind the movement of the horse. Saddle pads are usually white and square in shape. Girths vary in type, but usually have a contour to give room for the horse's elbows, and many have belly guards to protect the underside of the horse from its shoe studs when the front legs are tightly folded under.
Bridles may be used with any style of cavesson noseband, and there are few rules regarding the severity of this equipment. The figure-8 cavesson is the most popular type. Bits may also vary in severity, and competitors may use any bit, or even a bitless hackamore. However, the ground jury at the show has the right, based on veterinary advice, to refuse a bit or bridling scheme if it could cause harm to the horse.
Boots are worn by almost all the horses, due to the fact that they may easily injure their legs when landing or when making tight turns at speed. Open-fronted tendon boots are usually worn on the forelegs, because they provide protection for the delicate tendons that run down the back of the leg, but still allow the horse to feel a rail should it get careless and hang its legs. Fetlock boots are sometimes seen on the rear legs, primarily to prevent the horse from hitting itself on tight turns.
Martingales are very common, especially on horses used at the Grand Prix level. The majority of jumpers are ridden in running martingales, as these provide the most freedom over fences. Breastplates are also common, used to keep the saddle in place as the horse goes over large fences.
Rider attire
Rider attire may be somewhat less formal than that used in hunter riding. However, at an approved competition, a hunt coat is always worn, with a light-colored (usually white) shirt and either choker or stock tie. An approved ASTM/SEI helmet with a harness is not only a requirement, but a practical necessity to protect the rider's head in the event of a fall. Breeches are traditional in color, usually white, tan, or beige. Tall boots are required, usually black. Spurs are optional, but commonly used. Gloves, usually black, are optional, as is braiding of the horse.
Types of Competition
- Grand Prix: usually the most challenging competition with the highest purse money at a show. Horses are scored on a combination of faults and time in some competitions it is judged on technique.
- Speed Derby
- Puissance: a high-jump competition, where the final wall may reach over 7 feet tall.
- Six-Bar: riders jump six fences set in a straight line. In most places, fences are placed at equal distances apart, the first fence is the lowest and each subsequent fence is higher than the one before. Horses are either penalized or eliminated from competition if they knock down a rail. After each round where more than one competitor goes "clean," or is tied for fewest faults, the six fences are raised in height each subsequent round until there is a winner. Occasionally, if there are multiple jump-offs, the final fences can be raised to well over 6 feet.
- Gambler's Choice: An event where exhibitors choose their own course, with each fence cleared worth a given amount of points based on difficulty. The entry who accumulates the most points within a set time limit on course is the winner.
- Calcutta: A jumping event where spectators bet on which horse will win by means of an auction where the highest bidder has the exclusive bet on a given horse. Though the exact mechanism varies by region and culture, as a rule, the spectator who bets on the winner collects all money bet and then splits the purse with the owner of the winning horse.
- Maiden, Novice and Limit: Jumping classes limited to horses with fewer than one, three or six wins. Fences are usually lower and time limits more generous.
- Match Race or Double Slalom: two identical courses are set up in a split arena, and two horses race over the courses.
Types of Show Jumping Jumps
- Vertical - a jump that consists of poles right above each other with no spread, or width, to jump.
- Oxer - Basically two verticals close together, to make the jump wider. Also called a spread.
- Ascending Oxer: The furthest pole is higher than the first.<p> - Descending Oxer: The furthest pole is lower than the closest. <p> - Swedish Oxer: The poles slant in opposite directions, so that they appear to form an "X" shape when seen head on. <p>
- Triple Bar - Is a spread fence using three elements of graduating heights. It is a relatively easy jump although usually very wide.
- Crossrail- not commonly used in sanctioned horse shows, two poles crossed on jump standards so that the center is lower than the sides. Used at small shows and for schooling purposes to help the horse jump in the center of the fence.
- Wall - This type of jump is usually made to look like a brick wall, but the "bricks" are constructed of a lightweight material and fall easily when knocked.
- Hogsback - A type of jump where the tallest pole is in the center.
- Filler - This is not a type of fence but is a solid part below the poles, such as flower boxes or a rolltop. It can also be a gate.
- Combination - any number of jumps in a row, with a certain number of strides in between.
- Fan: the rails on one side of the fence are spread out by standards, making the fence take the shape of a fan when viewed from above.
- Open water: a wide ditch of water
- Liverpool: a ditch or large tray of water under a vertical or oxer
- Joker - a tricky fence comprising only a rustic (or unpainted) rail and two wings. The lack of filler makes it difficult for a horse to judge their proximity to the fence as well as the fence's height, making it a tricky obstacle usually found only in the upper divisions, and illegal in some competitions.
The Horses
Some of the Great show jumping horses in history have been:
- Abdullah
- Baloubet du Rouet
- Big Ben
- Boomerang
- Deister
- Dobels Cento
- Galoubet A
- Gem Twist
- Grannus
- Halla
- Heartbreaker
- Milton
- Monopoly
- Nimmerdor
- Ramiro Z
- Ratina Z
- Robinson
- Snowball
- Snowman
- Stroller
Important show jumping events
- CHIO Aachen - The biggest show jumping tournament, in Aachen, Germany.
- Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada, Tournaments include "The National", "The North American", "Canada One", and "The Masters"
- The British Open Show Jumping Championships - Top class international Show Jumping, Horse Ball competitions and Thrilling displays.
- Horse of the Year Show - The Show of Champions. Packed full of action from both the showing and show-jumping worlds.
- London International Horse Show - Information on the show, including Quadrille dressage to music finals and the Shetland Grand National, along with the international standard showjumping and qualifiers.
- Dubai International Horse Show - The world's richest show jumping competition offering a prize fund of USD 1,250,000. Also named as Al Maktoum Challenge.
- Indoor Brabant Den Bosch - International Equine Event in Den Bosch, The Netherlands.
- Dublin Horse Show - The Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show is Ireland's leading Equestrian and social event of the Summer.
- The Summer Olympic Games
- the Wellington Equestrian Festival - the longest winter circuit.
External links
- Videos of show jumping
- Jump Off CN World Cup
- Jump Off: Big Ben Challenge
- Jump Off in a Grand Prix
- Four-bar Competition
- Grand Prix
- Derby course
Categories
Show jumping